Medieval Monday with Cathy MacRae

We’re onto week three of #MedMon18 and today I’m sharing an excerpt from Cathy MacRae’s The Highlander’s Crusader Bride.

Her perfume drifted to his nose. Something he could not place. His first wife had favored heavy floral scents, but Arbela’s was earthier, warm, spicy and intoxicating. Sensual.

Caelen risked a look at his bride. She faced away, speaking to one of her da’s knights. A pang shot through Caelen’s midsection. Jealousy? Ridiculous. The man had likely known her all her life. ’Twas natural they spoke together.

Born in the Holy Land only a few years after the Third Crusade, half-Armenian, half-Scot Arbela MacLean is a true daughter of the desert, beautiful and untamed. Trained to be a warrior to avoid her gentle mother’s fate, Arbela has honed her skills with Turkish bow and arrow, sword and throwing darts—and dreads the day her father choses a man for her to marry.After more than thirty years in the Holy Land, Donal MacLean, Baron of Batroun, is recalled to Scotland, the last son available to take up leadership of clan MacLean. He brings with him knights, treasure, trade—and a daughter of marriageable age.Caelen MacKern, known as the Bull of the Highlands, is cynical about women. His first marriage formed an alliance, and he did not grieve when his spoiled, immature bride passed away. He has agreed to marry again—against his better judgement—for the men, means and coin to recover from a devastating pestilence that all but wiped out his clan.Though more than a little resentful at finding himself forced to remarry, Caelen’s proposal to Donal MacLean’s headstrong daughter nevertheless piques her interest. Each will receive what they want most from life—the ability to live as they please without interference from a meddling spouse. But their marriage of indifference will soon change to one of passion that neither Arbela nor Caelen could have predicted.

What readers say

'I was completely immersed in the story and even shed a tear. '
'A satisfying read, with some great ambiance and a fast-paced romance.'
'Absolutely brilliant story, kept me gripped right til the end and I really cared about the main characters.'
'I couldn't put it down....resulting In a 1.30 a.m. bedtime!'

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